Rectifier.



O. W. SIROH.

RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2,1907,

Patented Aug". 24, 1909.

Inven [11" mhihjjles W.51Pct1 troverted part, this introverted CHARLESW. SIRCH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

RECTIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 2, 1907.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909. Serial No. 400,362.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, (names W. SIRcH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement inRectiiiers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to reetifiers for converting alternating currentflow into direct current flow, as, for instance, mercury vaporrectifiers, and is chiefly concerned with the construction of the glassbulb containing the mercury and artial vacuum, the object being toprovide or better cooling facilities, and also to obtain better circuitconditions within the bulb. I preferably make the body of the bulb inthe shape of a bell, the top of the bulb being introverted and extendeddownwardly a distance below a plane passing through the main positiveelectrodes.

hese main electrodes are in practice, usually connected with theterminals of an alternating current generator and the introverted partextending between these electrodes will prevent short circuit flowbetween them. The cathode is at the lower end of the bulb and below theend of the inpart therefore confining the current to flow between theanodes and the cathode. The lower end of the introverted tube isconnected with the base of the bulb by tubular braces which connect thelower end of the tube with the atmosphere so that there will becontinued circulation through the braces and the introverted part whichis also open to atmosphere at its upper end, therebycausing air whichhas been heated by the current flow, to be carried away. The bulb istherefore kept cool by this continued circulation of cooling all"through the interior thereof.

On the accompanying drawing, I have shown the construction of therectifier in accordance with my invention.

Fi ure 1 is an elevation view of the bulb, and *ig. 2 is a diametricalsectional view.

The body part 1 has the shape of a bell at 0p osite sides of which, andat the lower end thereof, are the projections 2 and 3, for receiving andholding \the anodes 4 and 5. The cathode 6 enters throu h the projection7 disposed centrally at the owest end of the bulb, and below the planeof the anodes as shown. The bulb is preferably made of glass and thematerial of the top thereof is introverted to form a tubular tongue orextension 8 having the form of a test tube. The lower end of this tubeterminates a short distance above the cathode 6, but below the plane ofthe anodes 4 and 5. Strengthening braces 9 extend between the lower endof the tube and the base of the bulb, and these braces are tubular so asto connect the tube with the atmosphere, and the upper end of the tubebeing also open to the atmosphere, there will be a continuous current ofcooling air flowing upwardly through the tube. The interior of the bulbwhich would ordinarily be highly heated by continued current flow therethrough will now be kept cool by this continuous circulation of coolingair through the center thereof and through the very heart of the currentfield.

In ractice, the main anodes 4 and 5 would usual y be connected with theterminals of an alternating current generator and there would be atendency for the alternating current to flow directly between theanodes. This short circuit current flow is however prevented by thelower end of the introverted tubular part which extends below the planeof the anodes and short circuiting thereof is therefore prevented, thecurrent being deflected to the cathode 6.

I have shown an additional projection 10 between the rejections 3 and 7,through which a sup ementary electrode 1] enters the bulb, whichelectrode may serve as a starting electrode.

desire to secure the following claims by Letters Patent 1. A rectifiercomprising a body part in the form of a bulb, anodes extending throughthe walls of the body part, a cathode extending through said Walls andbelow the anodes, and an introverted part extending through the bulbbetween the anodes and below the plane of said anodes to prevent directcurrent flow between the anodes and to confine current fiow to pathsbetween the anodes and the cathode, said introverted part being open atboth ends to the atmosphere whereby air may circulate therethrough tocarry away heat generated by the current flow within the bulb.

2. In a rectifier of the class described, the combination of aninclosing glass bulb, electrodes supported from the walls of the bulb,

and an air chamber extendin through the interior of the bulb and into te field of the current flow between the electrodes, said chamber beingopen at its ends to the atmos- 5 phere whereby air may circulatetherethrough to carry away heat generated by the current flow betweenthe electrodes.

3. A rectifier for transforming alternating currents into directcurrents, said rectifier being in the form of a glass bulb, anodesextending into said bulb from the sides, a cathode extending u wardlyinto the bulb from the lower end t ereof, a tubular part extendingvertically and centrally through the bulb and terminatin below the planeof the anodes and above t e cathode thereby serving to deflect currentflow to prevent the current from flowing directly between the anodes,and connections between the lower end of said tube and the lower wall ofthe bulb, said connections forming passa e wa s for the atmosphere tothe lower on of t e tube, the upper end of said tube being also open tothe atmosphere whereby air may 25 circulate upwardly through said tubeto carry away heat generated by the current flow, said bulb, tube andconnections being an integral structure.

4. A rectifier comprising a body part in the form of a bulb, a tubularart extendin 36 downwardly from the top of s'ai'd bulb an open at itsupper end to the atmosphere, anodes entering the bulb from oppositesides thereof, the lower end ofthe tubular part interposing between saidanodes, a cathode entering the bulb below the lower end of said tubularart, braces securing the lower end of the tubu ar part to the lower wallof the bulb, and passage ways through said'bracesconnectmg the lower endof the tubular part 40 with t e atmosphere whereby there may becirculation of cooling air through the tubular art. p In witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of October, A. D. 4

CHARLES W. SIRCH. Witnesses:

L. Avrsn, V. H. PEcK.

